Entry #7

Journal #7
Chapters 18-23
Perspective: Free Write

Choice C: So far, is this a novel about race? Class? Gender? Coming of Age? Place? Select and defend your answer.

I think this book revolves around racism. In Maycomb county, life is lived a certain way. The white people live by themselves and the black people by themselves as well. There is no connect between any two races and they just live there own separate lives. Then when a court case comes up involving and black man and a white man it begins to stir the town. The story of the book is based on the court case. The part that makes the book so interesting is that the twelve members of the jury have to make up their minds whether to go with what the facts say or go with racism. Clearly, racism is a crucial part of the story.
“Cry about the hell white people give colored folks, without even stopping to think they’re people, too.” This was a quote from Mr. Dolphus Raymond on page 201, chapter 20. He is explaining how people can be so mean to black people just because of their color. Mr. Raymond is a perfect example of how race matters in the book. He pretends he is drunk just so white people think that is why he hangs out around Negros. People just wouldn’t understand why someone would be nice to black people for no reason. No one understands that they are just the same as them.
Another reason race is important in the book is because of Tom Robinson’s trial. It would have been an easy case if he were white. All the evidence was there and Mr. Ewell didn’t have much to his name any ways. The part that made this case so difficult is because of his color. It was between doing what was right and doing what everybody was expecting of you. Clearly, if he were not a different race, the book would not have any point.
Overall, race is incredibly important to the book. You would not be understood if you even sat with black people. It took the jury hours to decide because Tom Robinson was a black man. In conclusion, there would have not been as many conflicts in the book if race was not involved.

Entry #6

Journal #6
Chapters 16-19
Free Write

Question-

B. Compare and contrast yourself to either Scout or Jem at their age. Compare and contrast your summer activities, friends, relationships with your dad, siblings, and adults.

Answer-

I think there is a big difference between Scout and I. To start off with the setting is completely different. Scout lives in a small town where she is able to walk by herself around almost the whole town. Me on the other hand, I tend to stay in my neighborhood. It would take me 20-30 minutes just to get to downtown where Scout can just walk. There are many other differences between Scout and I including our summer activities, our preferences, and our relationships.
One thing that is different is our summer activities. Scout would spend endless days playing games with Jem and Dill. It seems to take a lot more planning to get together with my friends. Where Dill can just walk over I have to plan a ride or some type of transportation. Also, I would normally half to plan these things a few days before where Jem and Scout drop by to see Dill any time they want. The three of them don’t have fancy things like television or amusement parks. They just go outside and create their own games. I am blessed with many different activities like swimming pools, TV, computer, trampoline, zip line, and different vacations. I have much more to do that can be expensive where Jem and Scout just go outside and create their own game.
Another difference between Scout and I is that Scout doesn’t have many people her age. It doesn’t seem like she has many friends in school and she mainly plays with Dill and Jem. I, however, have many friends at school but have a hard time seeing over the summer. I like to see many people over the summer where Scout only has Dill and Jem. I think this has to do a lot with her neighborhood. Like she says in the book, there are many old people on her street. She doesn’t have many young people she is around. There are many children on my street that I am use to seeing. Along with that I think that she has a much better relationship with her neighbors. Miss Maudie is her best friend when Dill and Jem are together, where I don’t talk to many of my neighbors. I think since they live in a smaller town, it is easier to get more connected with the area around them.
Overall, I think that Scout and I are very different. I believe it is because we have both grown up completely differently. She makes up games to play; I always have something to entertain me. I have a harder time getting around San Diego where she can walk anywhere. She has friends with older neighbors when I tend to hang out with people from my school. In conclusion, I have to say that Scout and I are completely different.

Entry #5

Journal #5
Chapters 13-15
Perspective: Tom Robinson

Dear Journal,
I am writing from the Maycomb jail. They just moved me here today. I was so worried of getting killed today. I think I was the most worried today. It was a preoccupation of mine. You see, many people don’t seem to like me. It is all because of my color. People are so racist these days. Everybody seems to see black and white. Well, everyone except Mr. Atticus. Mr. Atticus Finch is my lawyer. He is the nicest man I have ever met. He doesn’t see black and white. He sees everyone as equals. I really owe him. Ever since this case came up seven months ago, everyone has been trashing him for helping me. I am almost ruining his family’s name. He just keeps his head with everything and calmly settles the issue.
My jail cell is nice. There haven’t been any people in recently so it is nice and tidy. The jailhouse is one cell wide and two cells tall. My cell has a dirt floor with a small cot hanging from the wall. Everyday Mr. Tate, the sheriff, slides a tray with a piece of bread and a water cup on it. Mr. Tate sure is nice. The worst part about jail is that I am so lonely. I keep worrying about my family and home. Mr. Atticus informed me that an offering was taken at my church, First Purchase, to raise 10 dollars for my wife Helen. I am so grateful that other folks are looking out for my family.
My trial is tomorrow. I wish I were infallible. Like I said, I was transferred to the Maycomb jail today. Mr. Atticus was worried there might be a riot tonight after I was transferred. Mr. Atticus decided to come sit outside the jail to protect me. Sure enough, a little after 10 when 4 cars pulled up. They had decoyed Mr. Tate with a fake emergency to get him away from the prison. Atticus would not let them in. By that time I was shaking. I could hear everything that was going on and I was just behind a thin wood door. I was so scared for Mr. Atticus. He was risking his life for me. There was no compensation for all he’s done for me. All of the sudden I heard a little girls voice. From Mr. Atticus’s reaction I assumed it was his son and daughter however I couldn’t acquire much information other than that. He told them to go home. Then the other kid, apparently his name was Jem, kept saying no. Then the little girl, Scout, started talking to this man named Walter Cuttingham. I assumed he was one of the leaders in the group. She continued trying to talk to him, talking about entailments and his son. He then told her he would say hey to his son for her then called all the men off. After I was sure all of them left, I emerged from my silence and asked Mr. Atticus, “They gone?” After that I decided to try to sleep after what had just happened. I should probably go to sleep now because tomorrows a big day.
Good Night,
Tom Robinson

Entry #4

Journal #4
Chapters 10-12
Perspective: Mrs. Dubose

Dear Diary,
Today passes on like everyday of my life. The usual, wake up, lie in bed, go to the porch, critique passing neighbors, and go to bed. Today when the Finch children passed by I assumed they were playing hooky. Those naughty children. Always trying to escape what they have and never realizing how grateful they should be. I would say the Finch children are the worst, always running around wild. They are always debating and contradicting me. I say, ever since their mother died that household has been out of control. Now with their daddy defending that black man, I say they are nothing better than the people Atticus is defending. I would hate if someone knew I was even acquainted with them. That is exactly what I told them. I say Jeremy’s body go ridged and I knew I had hit him in a sensitive spot. I didn’t care because those children needed to be told what they were turning into.
After that I went back inside for my medicine and to go back to bed. Later that night my serving girl reported that Jeremy had destroyed my garden. He took a baton and machete chopped all the heads off my beautiful camellias. Since I am trying to get off morphine I figured he should read to me to get my mind of things. I told him he needed to come for a month. He was very perplexed and frustrated to hear that. I on the other hand think it is an ingenuous idea. I know that he won’t kill my camellias anymore after dealing with me. It will be good for him to be taught a lesson with messing with me. I will write more if I wake up tomorrow.
Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose
Written by Jessie

Dear Diary,
Today was the last day Jeremy had to read to me. I think it really worked. It helped me not concentrate on my pain. I want to die morphine free and have nothing on nobody. I could tell that Jeremy was glad to be free. Everyday Jessie set my timer back a few minutes to ease me off my medicine. I’m not sure how much longer I will live but I am glad that I could help bring those crazy children up right. I want Jeremy to know that I meant well for him. I am having Jessie assemble a candy box to put one of my flowers in to entrust him with my gift.
Farwell,
Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose
Written by Jessie

Entry #3

Blog #3
Chapters 8-9
Perspective: Uncle Jack


Dear Journal,

Merry Christmas! I’m staying with my brother Atticus and his two kids, Jem and Scout. They picked me up at the train station yesterday and I’ll be staying with them for a week. I am so excited to be staying with them over Christmas. The two of them have grown up so fast. When they picked me up last night little Scout started cussing. Then at dinner, she said it again. I can’t believe my little niece is beginning to have quite the dirty mouth. Of course I sat her down after dinner and told her to watch herself or she’ll be in a heap of trouble.
This morning we opened presents. I picked up two air rifles for the two of them. I think they are both really happy. It was unanimous that it was one of the best gifts they got. However, I didn’t get anything really special this year, just a few pairs of socks and some doctor gear. The best gift I got was a lesson. It was a lesson from Scout. It all started when we went to Finch’s Landing. After a fabulous dinner I was strolling around when I saw Scout punch her cousin, Francis, right in the mouth. She was tormenting him. Immediately I ran over to stop the fight. Francis told us that she had called him a bad word and then attacked him. Little Scout agreed. She tried to be evasive but I grabbed her. She teetered in my arms then started yelling that she hated me. It is awful to hear your own niece yelling such hateful words at you.
That night when we got home I came in to talk to her. She said I wasn’t fair. Then she came right out with it and said I don’t understand children very well. She told me that you always need to hear both sides of the story. You can’t just go off of one person’s view. Then she told me that Francis was calling my brother bad names because Atticus is defending a black man in a case. That Atticus was going to ruin the family name because he is helping a black person and that he lets Jem and Scout run wild. I can’t believe I just thought she was being malignant.
I was so in shock of what happened. Anger grew from within me knowing what horrible things had been said. My instinct was to call Alexandria and fix that boy right. Scout wouldn’t let me because she didn’t want her father to know what made her made. As hard as it was, I gave her my word. I’m writing this entry now after everyone got to bed. I should probably get a little sleep myself.

Write more soon,
Jack Finch

Entry #2

Blog #2
Chapters 4-7
Miss Maudie Atkinson

Dear Journal,

Today was another lovely summer day. I sat on my porch and watched the slight breeze brush the grass. The sky was the lightest shade of baby blue with the sun burnt town sitting right under it. My azaleas danced with the wind as it carried the martins soaring below the mimosa tree. There was not anything new that happened today. The sun still came up and went back down again. The worst part of the day was when I found another blade of nut grass. Of course I cleaned it up with my tin can and my pesticides. God should have never ever created such a horrible thing. One blade of grass could end up covering the entire county with those little monsters. It’s a good thing I am here to prevent my yard from having weeds take over this whole town.
Today Scout Finch came over. That silly little girl. She’s been comin’ over every day this summer. I think her brother and his friend Dill have made her the third wheel keeping her aloof. They are just stuck away in Jem’s tree house, planning all sorts of crazy things, except when I make cakes. I normally make a cake for me and three mini cakes for all of them. I holler, “Jem Finch, Scout Finch, Charles Baker Harris, come here.” That usually gets them runnin’. Plus, they also like to eat my scuppernongs.
Little Scout came over and asked if Boo Radley was still alive. I figured she would one day ask about that. I mean, gossip is all over the entire county about what really happened to the old Radley family. Honest to God, I sure don’t know what happened to them. They sure were never a real polite family. Always kept to themselves. Never went outside, even on church days. They just stayed inside. Mr. Radley would walk to town once every day but that was it. I can sometimes see shadows movin’ in there but my old eyes are faulty. I told the kid that Author Radley (also known as Boo Radley) liked to stay inside and that he was a foot washing Baptist. I had to explain what that was to her. Good gracious, do they teach children anything in school nowadays? One thing I told her that she was surprised to hear was that Author Radley was kind to me when he was a child. Poor child, even after all the things people said about him he was still sweet. I bet he’s crazy now, being cooped up in his house for so many years.

Write more soon,
Miss Maudie Atkinson

Dear Journal,

I can’t believe this just happened. Mr. Raldey shot at something because he heard something in his back yard. I always knew that man was crazy. All he is is a nut case who has been inside for too long. He said he would shoot at anything in the bushes if hears another sound. I sure hope the youngin’s stay out of trouble. He is not the person to mess around with. Oh, my cakes almost done in the oven!

Write more soon,
Miss Maudie Atkinson.

Entry #1

Journal #1
Chapters 1-3
Perspective: Ms. Caroline

Dear Diary,
My first day was horrible. The day started when I read the book about cats. It was a lovely tale and made me feel fresh and ready for the day. I began teaching the class the alphabet. This one child, Jean Louise, had already learned to read from her father. She kept making up these stories about how she was born to read. Clearly lying to my face. I can’t believe how some of these children here don’t know how to talk to a proper lady. Later, I caught that same little girl writing. What child in this little patch of nowhere already reads? Her father really needs to stop teaching her.
When we got to lunch it didn’t get much better. I gave this one little boy a quarter. He rejected it. As a teacher it is my duty to ensure everyone has a lunch. Some of the children don’t have as satisfactory things however at least they have something to eat. This poor boy was barely talking to me. Then Jean stood up and started giving me this lecture about how he couldn’t pay me back. I was in complete shock. This rude little child continues interrupting my class and tells me I am shaming this little boy. I had enough of it. I was at my max with her. She really irked me. I grabbed her and brought her up to the front. I gave her a good whippin’ then sent her to the corner of the room. I will not have first graders talk to me like that and I will definitely not have my class running a loose.
Once everyone left for lunch I began to cry. Everyone seemed so mean to me. I have never been talked to like that when I was in Winston County. I am trying to educate the young people by condescending all the way out here in this little patch of nowhere. I even brought my Dewey Decimal System to try to help the students, which is an eccentric plan. I want to give up. I just don’t think I belong here. However, since I am Miss Caroline Fisher I will persevere and not give up. My grandma wouldn’t be proud of me quitting. This is for you Grandma.
After lunch was the worst part of the day. I was standing in my classroom as this little boy walked in. All of the sudden this louse started crawling out of his hair. A live louse! This boy was not what you would describe as clean. He was worse than all the other children combined. His hair was a giant tornado. He pinched of the louse with his fingers. He was covered in dirt from head to toe. If you saw him from far away you would of thought he was that color. Even his fingernails were black to the nub. I told him to go home, like all other practical people would say. Once I said that he told me he wasn’t coming back. Apparently his family only goes one day a year. He began to talk back to me. He ended up leaving yelling, “Ain’t no snot-nosed slut of a schoolteacher ever born c’n make me do nothin’! You ain’t makin’ me go nowhere, missis.” That was just too much for me. It had been a horrible day and I just couldn’t handle it. The other children began to comfort me, which did help. Soon the day was over.
It was definitely not a good day. It is so hard not knowing everyone’s family. The children all know each other and their backgrounds but I don’t. They are all so indigenous here. I have so much to learn. I guess I’m not going to be the only one learning this year.
I think the Maudie Atkinson (the family I’m staying with) is calling me for dinner.
Write more later,
Caroline Fisher